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TRIP TO THAILAND, MALAYSIA AND PAKISTAN

International Christian Voice is committed to highlighting the plight of persecuted, marginalized,

and vulnerable religious minorities in Pakistan.

In pursuance of our goal to successfully bring to Canada our most recently sponsored refugee family - for whom our community and friends have so generously donated to meet their financial obligations - it became necessary to visit Pakistan and Thailand to assess firsthand the difficulties from which this family and others are suffering. Further, it is important for ICV to educate and bring awareness to asylum seekers on how to properly apply for Canadian immigration under Canada's Private Sponsorship Program and other programs.During the sponsorship process, ICV encountered a serious roadblock when the office of the UNHCR did not accept the application for our sponsored family, claiming that since the husband died in Thailand, his wife and children were no longer in danger in Pakistan and hence should go back to Pakistan.

Progress Report on the Faris Family

In November 2015, International Christian Voice visited Pakistani Christian refugees in Thailand to survey the severity of their living conditions. During our visit, we met the Faris family and heard their story. Mr. Ayub Faris and his family fled from Pakistan to save their lives after an attempted kidnapping of his 16 year old daughter, Aanya, was made by a local Islamic fundamentalist. Fortunately, she was able to escape, but the perpetrator remained adamant on kidnapping her and forcing the family to convert. In this dire situation, the quickest and easiest option for the family was to flee to Thailand.

HAPPY BLESSED AND JOY FILLED EASTER

On behalf of International Christian Voice (ICV), I would like to wish you all a very happy and blessed Resurrection Day. Every year we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord, who came into this world to redeem the suffering humanity and to unburden those who are bent under the heavy burden of oppression.

International Christian Voice strongly urges the Islamabad High Court to review its decision.

In a new setback for Pakistan’s Christians and other religious minorities, Islamabad’s High Court has ruled that Pakistani citizens must declare their religion when applying for identity documents such as birth certificates, national I.D. cards, voter’s lists, and passports. Every citizen’s true religion must also be visible when applying for jobs in the government, judiciary, armed forces, and other civil services.

Shahbaz Bhatti Memorial Gala 2018

International Christian Voice (ICV) held its second fundraiser gala in support of refugee families on the occasion of Martyr Shahbaz Bhatti’s 7th death anniversary on Friday, March 2nd, 2018.

The gala, which was held at Westmount Event Centre in the city of Vaughan, Ontario was attended by distinguished human rights activists, representatives from the Canadian government, and residents of the Greater Toronto Area. The purpose of the event was to carry forward the legacy of Martyr Shahbaz Bhatti – Pakistan’s most renowned Christian freedom fighter who was assassinated on March 2, 2011 for his stance against religious intolerance in Pakistan – by raising funds to sponsor a deserving Pakistani refugee family suffering in Thailand. Organized with the strong support of Weston Road Pentecostal Church and the events many other generous donors, the Shahbaz Bhatti Memorial Gala highlighted the plight of victimized and persecuted Christians around the world.

SAIRA KHURRAM NEED YOUR HELP

Saira Khurram went to Thailand in November 2011 with her husband Khurram Ashiq and two children: Mariam Khurram, 6 years old and Musa Khurram, 5 years old, after facing persecution in Pakistan due to their Christianbelief.

Saira Khurram and her husband left everything they owned in Pakistan and applied for refugee status in Thailand. Since their arrival in Thailand they, have faced many problems. Under such dire circumstances, as head of the family, Saira’s husband, Khurram Ashiq, tried his best to support his family but faced many challenges while dealing with the UNHCR and the Thai Government. He suffered from anxiety and depression, which were worsened when his asylum case was refused by the UNHCR. This refusal was very hard on him emotionally and he could not handle the shock, eventually leading to a heart attack that took his life on October 19th, 2017.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2018

On behalf of International Christian Voice (ICV) and my family, I would like to thank all our members, well-wishers, supporters, partners and donors for their excellent support in the year 2017. Due to your support, ICV was able to highlight the plight of Christians and other religious minorities who are suffering in this world due to their religious beliefs.

Arrival of Faris Family in Canada

As you are all aware, International Christian Voice visited Pakistani Christian refugees in Thailand in November 2015. During our visit, we found one family who we believed was most deserving of sponsorship to Canada. Mr. Faris Ayub fled Pakistan to save his life and the lives of

his family, specifically his daughter, who was being pursued for kidnapping and forceful conversion.Upon arriving in Thailand, Mr. Ayub fell into severe anxiety and depression due to the mistreatment he faced in by immigration authorities in Thailand and not being able to provide for his family. He began working illegally to feed his young family who were sleeping with empty stomachs. While working at a factory, he suffered a serious injury in which three of his fingers were cut off his hand due to a lack of safety precautions. His inability to pay for medical treatment caused Mr. Ayub to suffer from tremendous physical and emotional pain which resulted in a heart attack that took his life.

Pakistani Christian Asylum Seeker Dies in IDC, Bangkok, Thailand

International Christian Voice (ICV) is very saddened to learn that 36-year-old Pakistani Christian asylum seeker Mr. Ijaz Paras Masih has died in Bangkok, Thailand while in an Immigration Detention Centre. He had been facing serious health concerns for many months and succumbed to his illness on May 26, 2017 due to a lack of medical treatment.

In the IDC, his health deteriorated substantially. His first heart attack occurred last year and he had become paralyzed since. He repeatedly requested Thai officials in the IDC to provide him with the appropriate medical treatment but it was not provided to him, ultimately leading to his death. Ijaz Masih is sadly not the first Pakistani Christian who has died inside a detention centre due to the negligence of Thai Authorities and local UNHCR officials. Many other individuals and families continue to suffer from the maltreatment and inhumane conditions inside Thai IDCs.

Zafer Bhatti Pakistani Christian given life sentence under Pakistan’s blasphemy law

May 6, 2017 International Christian Voice has come to learn that another PakistaniChristian man has been sentenced to life imprisonment under Pakistan’s blasphemy law, despite the absence of evidence to support the charge against him.

According to CLAAS, Bhatti was charged under blasphemy law section 295C and telegraph act section 25D in 2012 for sending blasphemous text messages from his mobile phone, a phone which is was not registered to his name. He denies the charges. He has been held in prison since that time.

Press Release – Shahbaz Bhatti Memorial Gala - Friday, March 3, 2017

The International Christian Voice (ICV) hosted a fundraising gala for refugee families while celebrating the life of Martyr Shahbaz Bhatti at Woodbine Banquet and Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Shahbaz Bhatti Memorial Gala was organized in partnership with Weston Road Pentecostal Church and supported by lead sponsor Derek Lobo.

The purpose of this event was to highlight the plight of Pakistani Christian refugees around the world, specifically in Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia, and to raise money to sponsor at least one of the most deserving refugee families to bring to Canada. This occasion also marked the sixth death anniversary of Martyr Shahbaz Bhatti who gave his life for the cause of human rights and religious freedom in Pakistan.

3 year old Christian girl raped in Pakistan

International Christian Voice (ICV) has come to learn that a 3-year-old Christian baby girl, Saiba Masih, has been raped in the city of Chishtian in the district of Bahawalnagar, Pakistan. Saiba is the daughter of Shafqat Masih and Catherine Bibi. Catherine is a single mother and has two other children, Altaf and Daud. She is a sanitary worker and her eldest son Altaf Masih, 22, is a rickshaw driver.

Martyr Shahbaz Bhatti Memorial Gala

International Christian Voice is a human rights organization that works to be the voice of the voiceless persecuted religious minorities in Pakistan and around the world. ICV tirelessly works to carry on the mission and vision of Martyr Shahbaz Bhatti by highlighting the plight of suffering communities. ICV was founded by Martyr Shahbaz Bhatti who sacrificed his life for this very cause.

On March 3, 2017, ICV is hosting the “Martyr Shahbaz Bhatti Memorial Gala”. The Gala will be held in remembrance of Martyr Shahbaz Bhatti’s life. This year we will honour Martyr Shahbaz Bhatti’s life by working towards sponsoring Pakistani Christian refugees from Thailand. Thousands of Pakistani refugees have fled their homes in Pakistan to seek asylum in Thailand due to severe persecution.

Appeal for support to Aanya Faris and family

International Christian Voice (ICV) desires to be the voice of the voiceless Christians and other religious minorities of Pakistan. Through local empowerment, international lobbying and assisting families fleeing from danger amongst many other things, International Christian Voice does all that it can to bring freedom to the lives of Pakistani Christians and other religious minorities.

International Christian Voice held candle Vigil for Victims of Lahore Attack

International Christian Voice held candle Vigil for Victims of Lahore Attack

On March 27, 2016, Easter Sunday, a deadly suicide bombing took place in Gulshan-e-Iqbal park in Lahore, Pakistan. Many Christian families were celebrating Easter with their loved ones while Muslims were enjoying an evening out with their families when suddenly a suicide bomber blew himself up inside the park. Over 70 people were killed in his horrific incidence and hundreds others injured. Many who were killed were women and children.

5th Annual Commemoration of Martyr Shahbaz Bhatti

On Saturday, March 5, 2016, International Christian Voice (ICV) held an event in commemoration and celebration of the life of Martyr Shahbaz Bhatti at the Canadian Coptic Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.More than 450 people attended the event. As it was Martyr Shahbaz Bhatti’s 5th death anniversary, ICV organized this event to gather members of the Canadian and Pakistani community, including government officials and community leaders, to pay tribute to the life and legacy of our great hero and to recommit our joint efforts in carrying forward his mission to liberate the oppressed religious minorities of Pakistan. The purpose of the event was to remember the sacrifice of Martyr Shahbaz Bhatti and all other liberal thinkers in Pakistan who devoted their lives to the cause of religious equality in Pakistan and around the world.

LAHORE: There should be a platform at the federal level for the representation of minorities, said former federal minister Dr Paul Bhatti on Monday.

Taking to The Express Tribune, Dr Bhatti, a brother of slain federal minister Shahbaz Bhatti, said that during the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government, the Ministry of National Harmony had provided minorities better representation.

5Th Martyrdom Anniversary of Shahbaz Bhatti

A young Christian girl was kidnapped by her owner Uzma.

A young Christian girl Agnes Shukat D/O,Shukat Masih Lahore Cantt was kidnapped by her owner Uzma.

According to Minority Rights Activist khaild Shahzad, Lahore: 24/11/2015. Agnes Shaukat D/O Shaukat Masih from Lahore Cantt was working in Sun Rita boutique as sales girl in Lahore Cantt. On 20th of November 2015 she usual left home for her duty. After 9:00.p.m. when she never arrives home, her parents got worried after 10:00.p.m her parents asked to boutique’s owner about her disappearance, the owners got angry and try to convert their attention and assure her cooperation.

A young Christian girl was kidnapped by her owner Uzma.

A young Christian girl Agnes Shukat D/O,Shukat Masih Lahore Cantt was kidnapped by her owner Uzma.

According to minority Rights Activist khild Shahzad, Lahore: 24/11/2015. Agnes Shaukat D/O Shaukat Masih from Lahore Cantt was working in Sun Rita boutique as sales girl in Lahore Cantt. On 20th of November 2015 she usual left home for her duty. After 9:00.p.m. when she never arrives home, her parents got worried after 10:00.p.m her parents asked to boutique’s owner about her disappearance, the owners got angry and try to convert their attention and assure her cooperation.

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Exclusive footage of Shahbaz Bhatti\'s interview

TRIP TO THAILAND, MALAYSIA AND PAKISTAN

APRIL 30- MAY 15, 2018

International Christian Voice is committed to highlighting the plight of persecuted, marginalized,

and vulnerable religious minorities in Pakistan.

In pursuance of our goal to successfully bring to Canada our most recently sponsored refugee family - for whom our community and friends have so generously donated to meet their financial obligations - it became necessary to visit Pakistan and Thailand to assess firsthand the difficulties from which this family and others are suffering. Further, it is important for ICV to educate and bring awareness to asylum seekers on how to properly apply for Canadian immigration under Canada's Private Sponsorship Program and other programs.During the sponsorship process, ICV encountered a serious roadblock when the office of the UNHCR did not accept the application for our sponsored family, claiming that since the husband died in Thailand, his wife and children were no longer in danger in Pakistan and hence should go back to Pakistan.

Backgrounder - Diefenbaker Award and Recipients Shahbaz Bhatti

Shahbaz Bhatti was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan in 2008 and named Federal Minister for Minorities a portfolio he accepted because of the opportunity it offered to defend the oppressed and marginalized of Pakistan.